Tasmania shivers through freezing night as temperature drops to -9.8C at Liawenee

UPDATED: Tasmania has shivered through one of the coldest nights of the year – including a bone-chilling -9.8C in one town — but that wasn’t enough to stop some people hitting the beach. SEE THE PICTURES

UPDATED: TASMANIA has shivered through one of the coldest nights of the year, but that didn’t stop the White family from rugging up and hitting the beach on Monday.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Belinda House said Hobart’s temperature dropped to 1.8C at 5.30am on Monday — not quite as cold as the Sunday minimum of 1.1C — while Launceston was around -4C and Liawenee dipped to nearly -10C.

Icy conditions at Penna, near Sorell, this morning. Picture ANNA CORNISH

“We had a strong high pressure [system] over Tasmania last night which saw clear skies and light winds, and that has resulted in very cold conditions right across the state,” Ms House said.

“We can expect another cold start [on Tuesday] morning, with temperatures down to -3C, -4C, and -5C about central and elevated parts and then cool mornings expected through to midweek.”

She said Liawenee’s minimum of -9.8C was the town’s coldest morning of the year.

Sisters Zara, 5, and Gigi White, 3, of Sandy Bay, enjoy the weather at Nutgrove Beach. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Kate White, of Sandy Bay, and her daughters Zara, 5, and Gigi, 3, were busy making and decorating sandcastles on Nutgrove Beach when blue skies appeared on Monday.

“It’s important for me to get the kids outside every day and get a walk in,” Ms White said.

“It was really still and beautiful and very enjoyable, despite the cold.

“People often complain about the weather in Hobart, but the winters are stunning, they’re just gorgeous, I think. It’s cold but you just rug up.”

Hobart is expected to reach a partly cloudy top of 13C on Tuesday after a minimum of 1C overnight, and a mostly sunny maximum of 15C on Wednesday and Thursday.

A frosty start to the day at Austins Ferry, in Hobart's northern suburbs. Picture: NATALIE MURRELL

EARLIER: TASMANIA has shivered through one of the coldest nights of the year, with the temperature dipping to almost -10C at Liawenee in the state’s Central Highlands.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Belinda House said Hobart got down to 1.8C at 5.30am — not quite as cold as the Sunday minimum of 1.1C, while Launceston was around -4C.

“We had a strong high pressure [system] over Tasmania last night which saw clear skies and light winds, and that has resulted in very cold conditions right across the state,” Ms House said.

Chase Abbott, 14, holds up a frozen puddle in the Huon Valley, south of Hobart, this morning. Picture: MISSY ABBOTT

She said Liawenee’s minimum of -9.8C was the town’s coldest morning of the year.

In a social media post, Tasmania Police said it had received a number of reports of minor crashes due to ice throughout the state, and urged motorists to drive with caution.

In a brief statement about 9.30am, police said they were attending two single vehicle crashes in Tasmania’s north.

Police and emergency services were on the scene of a single vehicle rollover on the Tasman Highway at Nunamara, about 500m south of Hunting Ground Rd. The driver was taken to the Launceston General Hospital as a precaution, and motorists were advised to avoid the area until the scene is clear.

Police and emergency services were also on the scene of a single vehicle rollover on Sheffield Rd at Barrington. Details of injuries were not yet known.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area if possible, and traffic was being diverted at Dalwood and Sheffield roads and Sheffield and Barrington roads.

Pinnacle Rd on kunanyi/Mt Wellington is closed at The Springs because of ice.

Elijah Abbott, 9, performs a few trampoline flips in icy conditions in the Huon Valley, on Monday morning. Picture: MISSY ABBOTT

Ms House said it would be fine day today, with temperatures expected to get to low double digits across most parts of the state.

“[We] can expect another cold start tomorrow morning, with temperatures down to -3C, -4C, and -5C about central and elevated parts and then cool mornings expected through to midweek.”